Mirini, Miryudōra, Ryudō -ShanGriLa 4 Galdary 48R7X
After three and a half years of sea travel, as well as another six months of traditional Miryudōran etiquette, I was shaping up to be a prim and proper princess. Daddy and Mama both agreed that I would take up permanent residence in Miryudōra; it wouldn't seem right for the future Empress to live in a completely separate nation from her people.
I didn't mind, though, the culture here was deep, and I found myself fitting in as if I'd lived there for years. Everyone in the empire adored me, and at first it was unsettling, but I soon realized that the dragon folk here hadn't seen a princess, let alone an Empress, in well over several thousand eons. So, with that in mind, I found it easier to adjust.
While I trained in the palace's dojo, I would often see the Royal Guard observing me. The guard consisted of four members, each from a different party. There was Sir Robfynn and his band of Merry Men, Sir Hanzo and the Jade Shadows, Lady Neith, and the Whistling arrows, and finally Lady Katsuyu and her band of Battle Medics.
Each of these royal guard members was rumored to be able to shake mountains, and I had to be trained by them. I would have to spend the next fifty years or so learning all their secrets and tricks. I was most excited to learn from Sir Hanzo and Lady Neith; among the four guards, their specialties — stealth and long-range ambushing —were right up my alley.
The combat training was intense work; Sir Hanzo oversaw all my stealth training. Ayo also joined; it turned out that she was still being groomed to become commander of the Imperial Guard. Uncle Aether, rather, Imperial Regent Aether, Ayo's adoptive father, saw promise in her ability to inspire those around her. Because of this, he made it to where Ayo would be next in line to command Miryudōra's Imperial Army. However, she's only two years older than me, and is nowhere near ready to lead an entire army, yet that much was made evident during our sea voyage.
While in Dartaania, the unified Elven continent, there was an altercation between our crew and the Darya, the Dartaani Marine Force. The situation was pretty mild, that was until one of the Daryani made a tasteless joke about a pirate crew made up of mostly little girls; the comment was enough to send Ayo into a blind rage. So much so that when she had a moment to calm down, she realized that she'd sunk one of the four idle ships that carried supplies and weapons.
One of our crewmates was Dartaani in origin and told us about the Vaedaryal, a race of Dartaani Elves that adapted to live in the sea. "The Vaedaryal will prosper once they receive this grand gift from the Empress of Miryudōra!" Ayo exclaimed as she ordered cannon fire and the sinking of the Darya vessel.
She had decided that the best option for her would be to be my shadow; it was very off putting at first, she would follow me everywhere I went. She had zero understanding of the word "privacy," whether I was bathing, sleeping, studying, what have you, I knew Ayo was right next to me.
It was unbearable, until one day, it wasn't. I wasn't sure why, but I found myself actually looking for her when she wasn't around. She's like a big sister that I've always wanted. We were basically inseparable, and when it was time to develop our skills and fighting prowess, we were unstoppable.
Something interesting about Miryudōra was the unique signatures of its denizens. I'm used to seeing more elemental-based signatures, but here the concepts are a bit more abstract. For example, I possess a Shadow Signature, not exactly an element, but not too out of the norm compared to someone with a Hunger Signature.
This ability allows the user to be linked to their subordinates via their stomach, and the leader heavily influences all emotions and thoughts. This signature seemed weird at first, but when I realized that this was how Ayo was able to command a ship of seventy-five young pirate lasses, I understood why Uncle Aether wanted her to be in charge of Miryudōra's army.
In theory, her skill gives her complete influence over her men, and the exchange works both ways. Ayo's subordinates each borrow a bit of her power when they are in battle. However, after the time I spent on the seas, visiting each nation, I quickly understood that there hadn't been any large-scale wars or fighting in hTraé.
I was meant to have a meeting with Uncle Aether, who led me to the throne room. "Mini, there is something you must understand before you ascend this throne."
I was confused; why'd he bring me here? "Yes?" I asked with a shaky breath. He sat down on one of the thrones and motioned me to join him to sit on the larger throne, assumed to be mine. So, I did, and he took a deep breath before dropping a major bomb.
"Minerva," he asked, "Are you familiar with a place called Earth?"
My heart dropped. How did he know I was from Earth? What is this? Is this some simulation? I don't want to lose what I have here! I didn't know what to say; I was frozen, speechless.
"You're silent," my uncle stated, "which means you have. No worries, Little One, you're not in trouble. However, since you intend to become Empress of this nation, you should be made privy to this information." With a circular motion with his hand, he created shadow-like people and animals.
"This realm, hTraé, and the realm of Earth are linked; bound together by the seams of the True Void, that thin line that connects the sky with the land or sea," he continued, "since you've heard of Earth, I'm assuming you are familiar with the concept of 'As above, So below,' is that a fair assumption?"
I nervously nodded my head.
He went on to explain that hTraé operates on a similar principle, with a few exceptions. For one, hTraé has its own day-night cycle; there's a sun and a moon, and we can even view other planets. Where it gets interesting is the sky and sea, "We reside inside the celestial body known as Earth," he explained, "now you might be asking yourself, 'if we live in the Earth, then why aren't we boiling alive?' The simple answer is magic, but a more technical explanation would be the laws of duality."
Duality? Like, there are always two sides to every coin? Things were starting to make a bit more sense to me now that he had explained this to me. "Mini, during your voyage, did you notice how there were no wars? No battles amongst the people of this world?"
I nodded my head again, "I did, but I didn't really think much about it."
"Earth is and will always be in a state of perpetual chaos, whereas hTraé will forever remain in a state of perpetual peace," and when my uncle said those words, it clicked. I had been conditioned to believe that my life on Earth was the only one that I'd ever have. I then abandoned that conditioning after I met Astaroth and my new family. And if what my uncle was telling me was true, then I will need to be the version of me who can lead and protect those I care about. I understood that my being here was the direct antithesis of my life on Earth.
"A perpetual state of peace," I unknowingly repeated; it made a lot of things make sense. It was likely the reason why Earth was so screwed up, and this place flourished.
"The world powers of hTraé, the six Demon Lords, and our predecessors have upheld a time-honored mutual non-aggression pact," he stated with a blissful expression, "and because of this, peace will always remain." He paused and stared at me with his royal, purple-colored eyes. The eyes of a person who has just seen a long-lost relative, "it is unparalleled, the resemblance," he remarked.
"To whom?" I asked, and the comment was so abrupt that it threw me off guard.
Uncle Aether straightened his posture and took a deep breath. "Tell me, Mini, did you know that the domain we live in, the Ryudō, used to be one massive kingdom called 'Ryudō: The Holy Dragon Empire'?" He went on to explain that the nation was founded by the Demon Lords of Time and Space that went by the names of Astaroth and Beelzebub, "And you bear a STRIKING resemblance to The Queen of Space, Lady Beelzebub," Uncle Aether cleared up.
Is that what Astaroth was talking about when he said he was going to make me his Queen? I had a feeling something like that was the case, especially since Myrlin looks so much like him, Astaroth.
"After the kingdom was established, and the second generation of Demon Lords were ready to ascend, the nation was split in half," he proclaimed, "separated by the LeFey Forest, the Ryudō gave birth to two new countries, Garyudōra in the West and Miryudōra in the South. Oh yeah, and there was one other thing, your parents wanted me to let you know something."
This keeps getting better, both my thoughts and stomach were doing somersaults from all this news.
"You're not a twin, rather, you are, just not to Monspeed," he continued, "your mother, when she was in her early stages of her pregnancy, was attacked by a venomous Slime Viper, and because of this, she had an irregular pregnancy. It was so irregular in fact that she had been in labor an entire year before she had you and Monspeed." From my understanding, Myrlin, Monspeed, and I are triplets, with Myrlin being the eldest of us and Monspeed being the runt. "I'm sure you've noticed that you and Myrlin have a lot more in common than you and Monspeed, am I right?" His voice reverberated throughout the throne room. Alas, he was right. Myrlin and I were always close, and truth be told, the past few decades, I suspected there was a deeper connection between the two of us.
"I won't get too into the topic, but you and your older brother, Myrlin, are what we in hTraé call an Asura," he informed. He further elaborated that Asuras are a Mythical race, and it's rumored that the patron goddess, Lady Tiamat, was in fact an Asura herself. "All creatures that draw breath owe it solely to Lady Tiamat, for the four Cardinal races in this world are Dragons, Demons, Fairies, and Slime Monsters," Uncle Aether mentioned, "these are the four races that make an Asura, one-third Dragon, one-third Demon, one-third Fairy, and point zero one percent slime."
With all the information my uncle was giving me, I felt overwhelmed and began hyperventilating. Ever the gentleman, my uncle, however, picked me up and sat me on his lap. It's been so long since I sat on his or father's lap. He stroked my hair to help calm me down. "Mini, I understand this is a lot of information," he calmly explained, "but you see, this throne is more than just a throne, it's a responsibility that must have unwavering resolve."
I had understood the task that had presented itself to me, and although it seemed scary, I knew that I wouldn't be alone. "And because you are inheriting the Miryudōran throne, you have an obligation to uphold." The room was already fairly quiet; however, once Uncle Aether said that, the silence was almost deafening. "I'm doing this a bit ahead of schedule, but I'd rather now than later. Minerva, as you know, I hold the Epithets of Demon Lord of Space and Imperial Regent of Miryudōra. But sadly, these are not permanent titles."
He took a long and calculated deep breath and closed his eyes, "Lady Eos and I both agreed that we would need to prepare the two of you for this now." My uncle placed his hand on top of my head. He began to speak, "With absolute dominion over Space, I, Garyūshi Shangomaru, bestow the Epithet of First Crown Princess of Miryudōra to the individual known as Minerva Cosmina Wyllt." The area where his hand was beginning to grow warm, not hot or burning, but a soft warmth that felt soothing; so soothing in fact that I hadn't noticed that I had passed out.
I then found my dream self in the dark chasm that has plagued me since I arrived here; the air was heavier and thicker than usual. And there was this piercing ringing in my ear, accompanied by that incessant whispering and murmuring "mine, mine, all mine!" I felt a presence —an overwhelmingly greedy one.
What is this? What's going on? This is very different from before; questions raced through my mind.
Once the ringing stopped, my vision grew incredibly blurry, and when I rubbed my eyes, suddenly, some sort of interface and statuses appeared in my field of vision. In the top-left corner of the interface, I saw my name, Minerva Cosmina Wyllt, and, underneath that, a tab labeled Epithets.
I wonder what this is, I thought. I didn't know how to select the tab, but somehow it seemed to know I was a bit curious about it, because it opened itself; it appeared to be a list of what I could only describe as titles. The first few slots were already filled; it looks like I've been acquiring these Epithets thingies since I've been in hTraé. There was a total of five: First Crown Princess of Miryudōra, Daughter of Chronos, The One to Consume All, Shadow Princess, and lastly The Beast.
The Beast? The One to Consume All? This makes me sound like a walking disaster!! Oh, what's this? There was an option labeled "Signature," and, of course, the interface opened the tab, revealing something rather interesting. My signature, it had a name of its own, 'The Beast;' there was an information box underneath the name of the signature, and from the gist of what the description said was that the skill doesn't need to be scribed like traditional spell casting. Instead, the signature uses a Trigger Phrase to activate, which allows for faster casting and more opportunities to attack. The Trigger Phrase for The Beast is Devour, and upon speaking the word, the skill will begin to consume the desired target.
The whispering began again. I'd almost forgotten where I was and that I wasn't here alone. The whispering grew ever louder as I tried to scope my surroundings. With the new interface, I was able to illuminate my vision just slightly, so I could at least make out what was in front of me. But even with that, I still couldn't see anything; however, there was something that I did notice, a smell. There had been this really sweet smell in the chasm that filled the dream-like space once the interface had activated. I let my nose guide me to the source of the scent; it was a lot closer than I expected, but the aroma was so overwhelmingly delicious and pleasant that I didn't even stop to think about what I was doing.
"Devour..." it didn't even sound like me, but I knew it was me who spoke the trigger. And as soon as I did, my shadows, which I didn't think were available, manifested into a pair of giant jaws and began to chomp on whatever it was that smelled so delectable. Once my shadow finished its meal, my stomach immediately felt like it expanded. Not my literal stomach, but my shadow stomach, where I store anything and everything I need. To make things even more interesting, the Epithet window was still open, and the name The Beast was crossed out and replaced with a new Epithet called Charybdis, and my signature also seemed to have been upgraded as well, also sharing the name Charybdis.
Looks like there's a relation between my signature and Epithet, interesting, I wondered. The greedy presence is no longer here, so I think I should be waking up soon. I opened my eyes; I was in my bedroom in Garyudōra. How did I end up here? I'm supposed to be back in Miryudōra for my training.
At that same moment, Marigold walked into the room and dropped the towels she was carrying to rush to my side. She was teary-eyed and gave me a hug, "Young Mistress, we-we were all so worried!" Marigold wasn't making any sense; I was only asleep —or so I thought I was. It turned out I was in a coma for a solid two weeks after I had my conversation with Uncle Aether.
Was that all—all just a dream, I'd pondered. Jade and the other maids came to aid Marigold with my recovery. They were all full of tears of relief and joy as they smothered me with their embrace. After the maid's inspection, they advised me of my being in Garyudōra. Rubella explained that Lilac and Marigold took turns looking over me. They said that one of them would be there, praying for a full recovery.
I'm so grateful. Although they were our parents' subordinates, they were also my mother's relatives, and each of them chose to serve our family. When I asked them why, they smiled and said that my mother and father had a light about them. A light that shone so bright that they had no choice but to follow it.
Some time had passed, and an escort had arrived to take me back to Miryudōra. Being away for two weeks had the palace in shambles. Ayosaki told me that everyone had thought the Curse of Lady Mammon had consumed my soul. "Wait, the what-now?" I raised a brow in confusion.
Ayo took a long, exasperated sigh and shook her head. "Honestly, Princess, you really are hopelessly clueless," she snickered. I honestly had no idea what she was talking about. "Surely you remember me telling you the story of the first Empress of Miryudōra?" Ayo inquired while squinting her eyes.
I thought about it. Was it one of those creepy stories she was telling while we were at sea? Ayo folded her arms and pouted, "I can't believe you forgot my tale!" I didn't know what to say; I honestly felt horrible. However, she did remind me of the curse and its origins. She spoke of how, when the first Empress became ruler, the people thrived and the country prospered. The Empress unknowingly had an affliction that caused her signature to consume her soul. Once the Empress's soul was consumed, the signature cursed the throne and the one who sits on it. "But it looks like you broke the curse!" Ayo's smile could light up an entire horizon. She looked like she'd been stressing herself out over this whole curse.
After a few hours of reassurance with the entire palace staff, I finally had some time alone. "First things first," I closed my eyes and concentrated; when I opened them, I saw it —the interface. "So, it was real. Does that mean that thing was the curse?"
I looked at my Epithets tab and checked the titles. As I had thought, the title Charybdis had replaced the title, The Beast. I gave the matter a great deal of thought, and I believe I have reached a fair conclusion. "I'm guessing that chasm nightmare was the curse at work, and that thing was the result of Lady Mammon and her signature. The thing was persistent and was trying to wear me down over the years. It likely thought I was a threat from the jump…"
I noticed something strange as I had the interface open: my thinking was much faster than before. A small text box appeared; it said the currently active ability was called "Thought Acceleration." The skill was gained when my signature evolved into Charybdis. Essentially, I can perceive time faster than the average mage, and Uncle Aether then told me that most, if not all, Demon Lords have this ability.
After I familiarized myself with my new signature, I met up with my uncle for an important lecture, "so you should have gained access to the LGIN, the Lesser God Interface Network," he spoke with an informed tone, "all Demon Lords of this world are considered Lesser Gods as the Supreme/Patron Goddess, was and is Lady Tiamat." I did know that they were strong, but I didn't know that they were considered gods. He then further explained just how important my role and position would be: "Although I am strong, I will be nowhere near as powerful as you will become."
It was weird, hearing the most powerful person in the empire call me superior. I didn't know what to think of it. "Uncle Aether, since you're technically a god, does that mean you have worshippers?" I asked. Where I'm from, gods were revered and deified by humans; I had wondered if the same applied in hTraé.
"Goodness no!" Uncle Aether exclaimed, "Although our subordinates and the residents of our continents have a great deal of respect for us, it would be seen as heresy. The lesser gods serve as administrators of the world; we hold the fabric of reality together with our respective Aspects."
His Aspect was that of Space, meaning he had complete dominion over spatial magic. My uncle was the real deal; he could do things that I could only ever dream of doing, and here he was telling me that I had what it took to be his successor. It was a task that I couldn't possibly refuse. I had figured that I could use this to my advantage, seeing as I will become empress soon.
Uncle Aether decided that I would undergo an intense training course for spatial magic. If I had to explain the training briefly, it involved expanding my 'stomach' to fit a small castle. I'll spare you the painful experience and say that I have, in fact, reached the maximum capacity of my stomach. I'd estimate it to be about four times that of the designated goal.
I wasn't just limited to that; I also needed to understand how to manipulate the space around me and between locations. My uncle taught me a concept of folding the space between two different places; this was the fundamental principle of the spell 'Shoji.' He'd already given Myrlin access to use the spell after he began studying with Lady Hypnos; this is called a "Co-Signing." As long as the original mage is still alive, the Co-Signing mage will have access to the signature. However, since I'm inherently a spatial mage, I will have to master it without the use of a Co-Sign; I'll have to make it my own.
It was challenging and tricky to figure out, but I visualized the space as if it were a piece of paper and folded the distance between. It took me a lot of trial and error, but I was ultimately able to open gates all of my own, only to places that I've been through. The space between is familiar and easier to manipulate, and of course, if I'm going to be an administrator of the world, then this skill is essential.
After I was able to understand spatial magic a bit more, Uncle Aether told me that I would have to learn government policies and understand the economy of Miryudōra. Since we're in a mountainous region, we rely heavily upon our coal mines and oil reserves. We and the Armed Federation of Albadorph are the two largest exporters of mining goods in hTraé, but for different reasons. Albadorph has an emphasis on smithing and rare ores for enchanting. We have an extreme supply chain of coal, and it was my responsibility to ensure we maintain friendly relations with all nations in hTraé.
I would have been completely lost had it not been for the head of the merchant guild, Guild Master Ifenlakanemitsu Babataro; his name means 'Father's golden shield of light,' and he definitely lived up to the name. "Hohoho!! Young Mistress, the coal Miryudōra produces is some of the finest you'll find in all of ShanGriLa!"
Babataro bolstered; he was extremely wealthy and wielded significant influence in the merchant world. He was a robust older businessman who was very popular amongst the more mature palace maids. Every day, I would see him flirting with one maid in particular, Chinamiku. She was one of the maids who had taken me home when I was out for a week. I didn't want to pry into their affairs; I just found it interesting that people will always be people, no matter the circumstances.
"Young Mistress, commerce is the way of the game," Babataro explained. "It is essential that a leader can negotiate and barter deals." Babataro knew so much about this subject that I even considered taking up an apprenticeship with him to further my understanding. That was until he met his untimely demise; Babataro was an elderly man after all.
Chinamiku asked if she could lead the funeral ceremony, and as Crown Princess, the only thing I could do was oblige and grant her request. It was a depressing day in Miryudōra; the streets were filled with mourning dragonmen all dressed in crimson and royal purple kimonos. It was the first funeral I'd ever been to since I'd reincarnated here, and I was in for a significant surprise.
On Earth, on the Gulf Coast of Mexico, there is a port city called New Orleans, and whenever there is a funeral there, they have a march; something similar happens in Miryudōra. The streets were filled with the residents, and as we marched to the burial site, there wasn't a word. Once he was buried, however, Chinamiku directed everyone to celebrate Babataro's life with food, drinks, and plenty of music.
Babataro had been in charge of the merchant's guild for well over five hundred years. Under his watch, he saw the rise of Miryudōra's economy and maintained its wealth using his friendly barter method. He would reach out to all the nations in hTraé and speak highly not only about the goods we offered, but also about the potential good they could do for whichever country he was speaking with. It wasn't hard to understand why Uncle Aether trusted him; the man had literally the best reputation when it came to selling and buying.
Babataro once sat me down to teach me the importance of commerce, "commerce is my life, it is my love, Young Mistress." Babataro explained it in a way that reminded me of the old men back in Memphis who always had the hidden sauce and knew what was up. "Like take this gold coin here," he pulled out a dazzling gold ShanGriLarian coin, "The love I have for this one coin, matches that of my love for Lady Tiamat!" They said money was the root of all evil, and whoever said that must not have met the kind and gentle soul that was Babataro.
Although my time with him was short, I did manage to meet the one who would take up his role as Merchant Guild Master, his son, Babamaru. Much like his father, he was well-versed in bargaining and trade and had some knowledge of the politics of the merchant world. "My father taught me everything I know, it'll be like he never left Miryudōra," he'd exclaim.
I figured a transition of power would be inevitable, considering how old my uncle is. It was like his cabinet was outdated, but I would have a much easier time with a fresh set of staff working with me that at least know the ropes. I already had the future commander of the Imperial Guard, and now I can add the future Merchant Guild Master to that list.
Mirini, Miryudōra, Ryudō-ShanGriLa; 12 Gaidana 50R7X
It's been two years since I accepted the Epithet system, and my signature has evolved. I found it tricky to get the hang of at first; however, I had someone my own age, Ayo, who was there to help me grow accustomed to it. As it would seem, the Hunger Signature is somewhat of a watered-down version of my Charybdis Signature, and Uncle Aether told me that my signature is still in its infancy stage.
He called it an Aspect, and I remember him mentioning it before. He said that a mage has three types of signatures: the main signature, sub-signatures, and the Aspect, the source from which the mage's signature is derived. Aspects are almost like an arcane magic that is only held by the leaders of nations. The most powerful Aspects are the "Aspects of Reality;" there are seven in total.
These include, in order of magnitude, The Aspect of Love, complete domination over emotions, and abstract concepts. The Aspect of Sleep, dominion of the dream realm, and sleep. The Aspect of Death, complete control of the dead and ruler of the Gates of the hTraéan Underworld. The Aspect of Life controls the lives of all those who breathe and their souls.
The final three Aspects are the most powerful, and their wielders have the most tremendous responsibility; there is no way to know what order to put them in, however, Uncle Aether did try. He'd said, from weakest to strongest, there is The Aspects of Chaos, The Aspect of Space, and finally The Aspect of Time.
"Wait, there's only six Demon Lords, shouldn't there be a Demon Lord of Chaos?" I asked. The thought seldom occurred to me, stories I'd heard growing up had always spoken of seven Lords that aided Lady Tiamat, so why were there only six Demon Lords governing the world of hTraé?
"It's a complicated matter," my uncle advised. "The one that holds the Aspect of Chaos will sub come to the madness of the signature." The Aspects of Reality were no joke, and the users of the Aspects have power beyond imagination. I could see that I would have pretty large shoes to fill if I wanted to be the version of me that Astaroth saw.
As the days went by, I devoted myself to learning the names and faces of all of my denizens. I would say the country's agriculture is most interesting; though the weather is harsh, they've managed to keep it up over the eons. I found myself working really hard in the rice fields, which grow very well in the spring and summer.
By the time I turned forty-nine, I'd memorized not only the tasks that I needed to accomplish as a Crown Princess, such as foreign and domestic affairs, understanding our matriarchal society, and the names of all of Miryudōra's people. Since the nation is on the smaller side, it has been a lot easier to get.
"Grand Rising, Young Mistress!" Chinamiku and the other palace maids would greet me every morning upon my arrival downstairs. As I mentioned previously, Chinamiku was invaluable and had been serving the palace for almost an entire rotation. "The Young Mistress must have a staff that is always at the ready," the words would further drive the other maids to be their absolute best.
I would've loved having her in my cabinet; however, she is scheduled to retire soon. She'll be leaving Bolajiyo in charge of the palace in her stead; she's quite the character, so much energy all wrapped up in a petite dragonman woman. "My Lady, the staff upstairs is drawing a bath for you once you've finished your work," she said, like Chinamiku, taking her job very seriously. Every morning, she'd wake up before the rest of the palace staff and immediately start making life easier.
"My Lady, you've received a letter from your father," Bolajiyo reported. "He asks you to read it as soon as possible," he'd sent the letter via a delegation, and there were at least three imperial carriages outside the palace gates.
"What is this?!" Ayo wasn't the biggest fan of surprises; it did take her at least two months of training before she warmed up to me. "Don't tell me," her words slowed to a halt as all three carriage doors opened.
I'd walked outside just as our guests were making the entrance, and my heart nearly skipped a beat. I was used to the Imperial Guard just existing in my day-to-day life, but the Royal Guard of Garyudōra, on the other hand, was an entirely different breed. I never actually met anyone in Garyudōra's army, at least I didn't think I knew anyone.
One by one, the knights and their apprentices each exited their respective carriages until I saw a familiar face, Ogunosuke. It has been so long since I last saw him; he was still very awkward, but the years have been kind to him. He was about my same age, forty-nine or fifty, and he was already being considered to be a member of Garyudōra's Royal Guard. The honor is nothing to take lightly, Daddy would tell me stories of the might of Garyudōra's Royal Guardsmen and how they're one of the most revered soldiers in hTraé.
"Lady Minerva!" Ogunosuke yelled out. Technically, an outburst like that would result in a corrective action from his instructor; however, one look in my direction was enough to make the other soldiers turn a blind eye.
"Hikariryūshi, right? I almost didn't recognize you!" I was genuinely taken aback by his being there. I didn't know how else to explain it, but whenever I'm with him, I feel like a cloud.
"P-please, Lady Minerva, you mustn't be so formal, you may address me as Ogunosuke." his face was cherry red and beading with sweat.
I couldn't help but burst into laughter. I really liked Ogunosuke; he was kind, gentle, and considerate. "Okay, Ogunosuke, but how about this? Let's make a deal," he said, looking up, confused.
"Y-yes, My Lady," he responded with a shaky and nervous tone.
"I'll call you Ogunosuke, or Ogun, or how about Ogy, consider it a nickname only I can call you!" I reached out and gave him a massive toothy smile. I had to admit, I was blushing pretty hard myself; it was almost as if I were a child with a little crush. "And in return, you may call me Mini, I won't accept 'no' for an answer either!"
Whispers and gossip amongst the other knights ensued as he reached for my hand, "A-are you sure, My Lady—," the glare given to him swiftly made him correct himself. "Mini! Okay! If My Lady wishes, I'll only refer to you as a Lady Mini," Ogunosuke rapidly bowed as a pool of sweat drenched his feet.
Once again, his awkwardness had caused me to erupt in laughter, "Fine, I'll accept 'Lady Mini', we'll work on dropping the 'Lady' part."
The rest of the knights' gossiping continued as he took my hand and bowed. "A mere knight's apprentice on friendly terms with the princess?"
"Who is he? Is he a commoner?" The gossiping grew more intense.
"That's enough! Ogunosuke here is from the Hikariryūshi Clan, a highly respected house in Garyudōra." A woman's voice echoed in the palace courtyard. There were still people in the carriages, and I assumed it was their knight instructors. From the middle carriage stepped a dark-skinned Fae woman with jet-black hair and pink eyes, wearing diplomatic clothing and medals of honor. This was one of Daddy's 12-Hour Knights in service to the Emperor of Garyudōra. Her name was Meera Dracoventis, The Hour of Timber.
She approached me and gave me a pleasant smile, "Young Mistress, a pleasure as always to see you." She bowed before me, "I do hope my apprentice isn't disrupting you, is he?" Her eyes darted to Ogy.
"No, no, Ogy and I were just catching up! He and I are from Caliburn," I said with a bashful smile. She smiled and patted her apprentice on the back, "Of course, Ogy, was it? My, Squire Hikariryūshi, you've managed to seduce a princess," Meera teased.
I looked over to Ogunosuke, who was redder than I've ever seen him. "And what's worse, is not only did he seduce a princess, but the First Crown Princess of Miryudōra! I knew you'd have a way with the ladies, but I'm blown away," she laughed as the other knight instructors exited their respective carriages.
"Stop teasing the kid," said a man with porcelain skin and dark-red eyes, "excuse Lady Meera's rudeness. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Sir Daisuke Zombi, The Hour of Fire. It is an honor to meet you, Young Mistress." He flashed a gleaming smile towards the palace maids, who each fell right into his hands.
What a dork, I thought.
"You're such a dork, Daisuke," a Dartaani elf man said as he approached us. "Sir Laith Balasit, the Hour of Wind, and you're already familiar with Lady Meera Dracoventis, the Hour of Timber," he motioned toward Lady Meera. The three were sent here by my father to help groom the future knights for their service in the military.
To keep things interesting, the Hours are split into groups of three, each with their respective apprentices, and they're sent to neighboring countries to improve their skills and gain new ones. Every nation in ShanGriLa participates in this exchange program, which also helps them learn about new cultures and customs. The group was set to live in Miryudōra for the next fifty or so years, just before I'm expected to enroll at Avalon Academy.